Bracket for transporting a cycle

ABSTRACT

A cycle bracket for transport of a cycle on a vehicle roof is provided with an anchorage strut secured to the vehicle roof and provided with two clamps which are adjustable to one another and which, by means of gripping members manufactured of a semi-rigid material, grasp about a frame tube in the cycle. The form of the gripping members is adjustable to the frame tube. In order to achieve simple and reliable adaptation of the gripping members, these include a jaw which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the clamp and which, together with an abutment fixedly disposed at the free end of the clamp, defines an accommodation space variable in both size and shape for the frame tube. Furthermore, the abutment portion is of one-piece manufacture with a flexible form-adapting member which is located between concave surfaces on the jaw and the frame tube.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bracket for transport of a cycle on avehicle and comprising an anchorage device which is connected to thevehicle and has two clamps adjustable to one another, the clamps beingprovided with gripping members which are operative, on adjustment of theclamps, to grasp about a frame tube included in the cycle, the form ofthe gripping members being adaptable to the frame tube.

BACKGROUND ART

A bracket for carrying cycles of the above-intimated type is previouslyknown in this art and its gripping members are designed as non-rigidplastic pieces abutting against approximately semi-cylindrical surfacesin the clamps. In the concave mutually facing sides of the non-rigidplastic pieces, there are disposed profile bodies whose longitudinaldirection is approximately parallel with the longitudinal direction ofthe tube which the bracket is intended to fixedly retain. At least someof these profile bodies are designed as hose profiles which may beclamped together so that the bracket will thereby be enabled to graspabout and fixedly retain a tube of relatively large diameter.

If the channels of the above-mentioned profile bodies are filled with asubstantially rigid or slightly yieldable body, the configuration of thegripping members will be modified such that these will become adaptedfor fixed retention of slimmer tubes in that the above-mentionedhose-shaped profiles can no longer be clamped together to the flatstate.

In certain cases, the above-intimated construction may perform well, butin such cases when the bracket is to be rapidly readjusted in order tobe able to grasp between tubes of different dimensions, problems arisein that those pins which are used for filling out the hose-shapedprofiles readily become jammed in the profiles so that they cannot bereleased without resort to auxiliary implements. A further considerabledrawback is that the filler pins are loose details which are notreliably always to hand when they are needed. A further disadvantageinherent in the prior art construction resides in the fact that theadjustment range which can be achieved by employing the above-mentionedhose profiles and filler pins is very limited.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The object of the present invention is to realise a bracket of the typementioned by way of introduction, the bracket being designed in such amanner that it has a large adjustment range, possibly in several steps,that it is not dependent upon any loose small parts for its function,and that, moreover, it makes for an extremely reliable fixed retentionof the cycle. The present invention further has for its object torealise a bracket which is simple and economical in manufacture andpermits both rapid and convenient adjustment.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attainedif the bracket disclosed by way of introduction is characterized in thatthe gripping members include at least one part which is movablyconnected to at least the one clamp for adaptation to the frame tube bypositional alteration of the part.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized inthat the gripping members include an abutment portion disposed at thefree end of each clamp and a jaw switchable, in the longitudinaldirection of the clamp, towards and away from the abutment portion, thejaw having a concave surface turned to face the opposing clamp.

The preferred embodiment is suitably also characterized in that theabutment portion is connected to a flexible form-adapting member which,with its rear side, is supported against the jaw and, with its frontside, is disposed to abut against the frame tube of the cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readilyunderstood from the following brief description of the accompanyingDrawings, and discussion relating thereto.

In the accompanying Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a bracket which is intended, mounted on avehicle roof, to grasp about a frame tube included in a cycle fortransport of the cycle; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal central cross-section through the one of theclamps included in the bracket.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a clamp.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Drawings, a bracket for cycles of the type encompassedby the present invention has two load-carrying struts which extendacross a vehicle roof, transversely of the direction of travel of thevehicle and, in these load-carrying struts there are secured a number ofchannels extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, inwhich channels the wheels of the cycles are accommodated and fixedlyclamped. Transversely of the longitudinal direction of the channels,there is disposed an anchorage which pivotally fixes the lower end ofthat anchorage strut of which the upper end portion is illustrated inFIG. 1. Hence, the anchorage strut is pivotal about an axis which is atright angles to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

In its upper end portion, the anchorage strut 1 has two clamps 2 whichare pivotal towards and away from one another and which are fixed, bymeans of joints 3, in the anchorage strut. An accommodation space 4 isdisposed between the upper/outer ends of the clamps 2, in which space atube included in a cycle frame is intended to be placed and fixedlyclamped.

For operating the clamps 2 in a direction towards and away from oneanother and, thus, for clamping the frame tube included in the cycleframe in the accommodation space 4, use is made of a lever 5 with aneccentric lock 6. Furthermore, both of the clamps 2 are held in theposition urged away from one another by means of a spring (not shown),so that automatic opening of the clamps will be achieved when theeccentric lock 6 is opened.

According to the present invention, the accommodation space 4 for theframe tube of the cycle should be of a size which can be varied so thata frame tube in a diameter range of from approx. 22 to approx. 50 mm canbe fixedly retained by one and the same cycle bracket. However,according to the present invention, the configuration of theaccommodation space 4 may also be modified so that, for example, ovaltubes may also be fixedly retained.

In the closed state of the eccentric lock 6, the accommodation space 4is partly closed outwardly (in an upward direction in FIG. 1) by meansof abutment portions 7 which are in the form of wedge-shaped nosesprojecting towards one another. In an inward direction, the abutmentportions 7 merge into form-adapting members 8 which are made of aslightly flexible, semi-rigid material. The form-adapting members 8extend inwardly between the clamps and are provided with inner endregions 9 which are accommodated between the two approximately mutuallyparallel shanks 12 which the clamps 2 have.

Since the form-adapting members 8 are flexible and deformable, they arenot alone capable of withstanding the abutment force which occurs whenthe shanks 12 are clamped, with the assistance of the eccentric lock 6,about a tube placed in the accommodation space 4. Thus, theform-adapting members 8 are supported against adjustable jaws 10 whichare displaceably accommodated in between both of the shanks 12 of theclamps 2 and which, with their end surfaces facing away from one anotherin FIG. 1, abut interiorly against that portion 11 of the clamp whichinterconnects both of the shanks 12 with each other. Thus, the clampsare approximately U-shaped in cross-section. At their sides facing oneanother, the jaws 10 have concave surfaces 13, and the lower/inner endsthereof have curved portions 14 which will be counter-directed to theabutment portions 7.

On their inner surfaces (facing towards the accommodation space 4), theform-adapting members 8 are provided with a number of recesses 15 whoselongitudinal direction is approximately parallel with the longitudinaldirection of a tube fixedly clamped in the accommodation space 4. Thepurpose of the recesses 15 is partly to render the form-adapting members8 more yieldable, and partly to provide space for, for example, a cablewhich may be mounted on the frame tube of the cycle.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a clamp 2. It will beapparent from the Figure that the abutment 7, the form-adapting member 8and the jaw 10 are of one-piece construction, and that the jaw and theform-adapting member 8 are interconnected by the intermediary of theinner end regions 9.

The jaw 10 has a transverse, U-shaped recess 16 through which a pin 17is passed, the pin being rivetted on the outsides of the shanks 12.Hereby, the jaw 10 may be adjusted from the position shown by solidlines in FIG. 2 to the position shown by broken lines in the sameFigure. As assistance in this adjustment, use is made of the projection18 which extends through an aperture in the back portion 11 of the clamp2.

In the position of the jaw 10 shown by broken lines in FIG. 2, theform-adapting member 8 is urged downwardly in the Figure so that itsrear side will follow the upwardly concave inside of the jaw. Hereby,the accommodation space 4 will have a considerably larger diameter thanis the case in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, such that a frametube of substantially larger diameter may hereby be fixedly secured.

By an adaptation of the arching of the configuration of the surface 13,it is also possible to design the cycle bracket so that it can graspabout a frame tube of oval cross-section.

Another method of influencing the configuration of the accommodationspace 4 on re-adjustment of the jaw 10 is to dispose, between the backportion 11 of the clamp 2 and the jaw 10, a sliding surface which may bearched, wedge-shaped, stepped or the like. There will hereby beobtained, on re-adjustment of the jaw 10, in addition to themodification of the distance between the curved surface 14 and theabutment portion 7, also a twisting (about an axis which isapproximately parallel to the pin 17) of the jaw, or a modification ofthe distance towards or away from the back 11 of the clamp 2.

While not being apparent from the Drawing, the extent of theform-adapting member 8 at right angles to the plane of the Drawing inFIG. 1 is greater than the extent in the same direction of both of theclamps. This implies that the rear side of the form-adapting member 8(facing towards the jaws 10 and the clamps) may, when the jaws 10 arelocated in their inner/lower positions, abut against the edges of theshanks 12 facing one another. Hereby, the form-adapting member 8 will besupported not only by the jaw but also by the shanks 12, which may haveflared edges so as to increase the abutment surface against theform-adapting member 8.

At their outer ends, both of the shanks 12 are provided with nosesdirected towards one another and accommodated in interior grooves orspaces in the abutment portions 7, whereby these are rigidified toextremely good mechanical strength.

DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the foregoing, the recess 16 in which the pin 17 is accommodated inthe jaw 10 has been described as being U-shaped. This corresponds to twodifferent adjustment positions for the jaw 10. However, the recess 16may be of other configuration, so that it has three parallel brancheswhich correspond to three different adjustment positions of the jaw. Theconfiguration of the recess 16a as shown in FIG. 3 is E-shaped.

As one alternative to continual adjustment of the position of the jaw,it is conceivable to employ a screw which extends in the longitudinaldirection of the clamp 2, possibly parallel with the back portion 11.Such a screw is accommodated in a longitudinal bore in the jaw and is inthreaded engagement with a nut in this bore.

If the jaw is designed to be slightly higher than that shown in FIG. 2,it would be possible, in an alternative embodiment, to dispense with theform-adapting member 8. In such instance, fixed clamping of the frametube of the cycle would take place directly against the jaw and againstthe abutment portion 7. In this case, the clamping surface of the jawshould, of course, be designed in a manner which corresponds to thedesign of the clamping surface of the form-adapting member.

As an alternative to the above-described displaceable jaw which restsagainst the back portion 11 of the clamp, a jaw designed approximatelyas a roller is conceivable, this being accommodated in between both ofthe shanks 12 and rolling against the back portion 11 or against aprofiled interlay resting against the back and with the above-describedfunction. Granted, in this embodiment, no surface abutment against theframe tube is attained, but this notwithstanding, inward and downwardclosing of the frame tube will be achieved so that the frame tube isreliably clamped in place. The above-mentioned roller is provided with athrough shaft which extends through slot-shaped apertures in the shanks12, the slot-shaped apertures being provided with broadened portions ina direction towards the back 11 for fixedly retaining the shaft.

In yet a further alternative embodiment, the jaw 10 may be replaced by apivotal portion which is pivotal about a shaft approximately parallelwith the above-described pin 17. This shaft is located as close as ispractically possible to the back portion 11. On pivoting and locking ofsuch a pivotal jaw in a clockwise direction (in FIG. 2), the bracketwill be adapted so as to cooperate with a frame tube of smallerdiameter, while a pivoting in the opposite direction will adapt thebracket to a frame tube of larger diameter.

The present invention should not be considered as restricted to thatdescribed above and shown on the Drawings, many modifications beingconceivable without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A holder for transportation of a bicycle on a vehiclecomprising an anchorage device connected to the vehicle and having twoclamps adjustable relative to one another, said clamps having grippingmembers provided for gripping a frame tube of the bicycle whentightening said clamps, the shape of said gripping members beingadaptable to the frame tube, said gripping members comprising oneabutment member and one jaw provided on each clamp, said abutment memberand said jaw defining a portion of an accommodation space foraccommodating the frame tube, said jaw being movable relative to saidabutment member in said clamp to adjust the size of the accommodationspace, said jaw having a concave surface facing an opposite one of theclamps.
 2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said abutment memberis connected to a flexible form-adapting member, the back side of saidform adapting member being supported on the jaw and the front side ofsaid form adapting member being adapted for contacting a frame tube ofthe bicycle.
 3. A holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidform-adapting member has, in the front side thereof, at least onerecess, a longitudinal direction of said recess being approximatelyparallel to a longitudinal direction of the frame tube of the bicycle.4. A holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said abutment member and saidform-adapting member are integrally made from a flexible, elasticmaterial.
 5. A holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said jaw and saidform-adapting member are integrally made.
 6. A holder as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each of said clamps has two shanks parallel to oneanother, the shiftable jaw being received therebetween and displaceablesubstantially in the longitudinal direction of the clamps.
 7. A holderas claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said clamps has a back surfaceagainst which the jaw abuts.
 8. A holder for transportation of a bicycleon a vehicle, comprising:an anchorage device connected to the vehicleand having two clamps adjustable toward and away from one another;gripping members provided on each of the clamps, said gripping membersdefining an accommodation space for receiving and gripping a framemember of a bicycle, said gripping members comprising one abutmentmember provided on each clamp and one jaw provided on each clamp, saidjaw being shiftable toward and away from said abutment member in saidclamp, said jaw having a concave surface facing an opposite one of theclamps; wherein each of said clamps has a pin approximately parallel tothe frame tube, said pin extending through parallel portions of a shapedrecess in said jaw to position said jaw in said clamp when said pin isreceived in one of the parallel portions of the recess.
 9. A holder asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the shaped recess is E-shaped.
 10. A holderas claimed in claim 8, wherein the shaped recess is U-shaped.
 11. Aholder for transportation of a bicycle on a vehicle comprising:ananchorage device connected to the vehicle and having two clampsadjustable toward and away from one another; gripping members providedon each of the clamps, said gripping members defining an accommodationspace for receiving and gripping a frame member of a bicycle and beingmade of semi-hard deformable material; said gripping members eachincluding a form adapting member for adapting the shape of theaccommodation space to a particular frame member and a jaw forsupporting said form adapting member on the clamps, said jaw beingmovable to change the shape of said form adapting member, therebychanging the shape of the accommodation space, said jaw further having aconcave support surface supporting said form adapting member.
 12. Aholder as claimed in claim 11, wherein said form adapting members have,in a front side thereof, at least one recess, a longitudinal directionof said recess being approximately parallel to a longitudinal directionof the frame member of the bicycle.
 13. A holder for transportation of abicycle on a vehicle comprising:an anchorage device connected to thevehicle and having two clamps adjustable toward and away from oneanother; gripping members provided on each of the clamps, said grippingmembers defining an accommodation space for receiving and gripping aframe member of a bicycle, each of the clamps having U-shaped crosssections with shank portions interconnected by a support portion; saidgripping members each including a form adapting member for adapting theshape of the accommodation space to a particular frame member and a jawthat is movable between the shank portions and supported on the supportportions of each clamp, said jaw having a concave surface on a sidethereof for supporting said form adapting member, said form adaptingmembers defining a portion of the accommodation space and being arrangedto change the shape of the accommodation space as a result of movementof said jaw.
 14. A holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein said formadapting members have, in a front side thereof, at least one recess, alongitudinal direction of said recess being approximately parallel to alongitudinal direction of the frame member of the bicycle.
 15. A holderfor transportation of a bicycle on a vehicle comprising:an anchoragedevice connected to the vehicle and having two clamps adjustable towardand away from one another; gripping members provided on each of theclamps, the gripping members defining an accommodation space forreceiving and gripping a frame member of a bicycle; and said grippingmembers each including a form adapting member for adapting the shape ofthe accommodation space to a particular frame member and a jaw forsupporting said form adapting member on the clamps, and a protrudingabutment member partially closing an open side of the accommodationspace, said jaw being movable relative to said abutment member to changethe shape of the form adapting member, thereby changing the shape of theaccommodation space.
 16. A holder as claimed in claim 15, wherein saidform adapting members have, in a front side thereof, at least onerecess, a longitudinal direction of said recess being approximatelyparallel to a longitudinal direction of the frame member of the bicycle.